After completing the pilot stage, these solutions will expand their reach, user base, operations, and sustainability models with support from Ruta N and the Toyota Mobility Foundation.
Three solutions under the Movilidad para Todos (Mobility for All) strategy, led by Ruta N and the Toyota Mobility Foundation, have advanced to a second phase to test the next stages of their mobility proposals in Medellín under real-world conditions. The projects Brazo Amigo, developed by Brazo Amigo SAS; Pendiente Cero, developed by Fundación Más Urbano; and MOBI, developed by Universidad Eafit have completed the pilot stage and are now ready to transform the way people get around the city.
"When we talk about innovation, we are talking about our ability to find new answers to the challenges people face. Mobility is one of them, which is why we work to turn talent and ideas into solutions that make getting around Medellín more accessible. At Ruta N, we continue creating the conditions for the city's talent to develop concrete solutions that improve the mobility experience and contribute to economic and social development," said Simón Arango, Director of Strategic Projects at Ruta N.
The three solutions address mobility from different perspectives. Brazo Amigo is a device that attaches to a manual wheelchair to assist movement in steep hillside areas. It is now moving toward a fleet model based on loans and user support. Pendiente Cero addresses accessibility barriers along first- and last-mile routes and will expand its operations across the entire Aranjuez district. MOBI, meanwhile, is developing an app that provides information about accessible buses to help people with reduced mobility plan their journeys.
"The Brazo Amigo team is very happy to move into the new scaling phase of the Medellín Mobility for All project. Through a service, we aim to improve mobility for wheelchair users and enable their efficient integration into the city's mass transit systems. We are ready to take on this new challenge and become part of the ecosystem," said Neil Alexander Calvo Arroyave, CEO of Brazo Amigo.
The scaling phase will run for eight months, with an estimated funding pool of up to COP 500 million for the three projects combined. During this new phase, each solution will continue developing its own minimum viable product (MVP), with targets defined based on the baseline assessment and evidence gathered during the initial pilots.
"I thank Ruta N for all the support it has provided to the innovators. I have seen a clear difference between what has been implemented and what was initially proposed. The greatest challenge, and also the greatest opportunity, is to engage the entire ecosystem so that this program succeeds for both the innovators and the city," said Lorielyn Mills, Program Director at the Toyota Mobility Foundation.
This partnership with the Toyota Mobility Foundation demonstrates how Ruta N connects Medellín with international corporations to attract expertise, resources, and, above all, solutions that address the city's specific challenges. Testing these technologies in real-world settings and supporting their development helps improve mobility and people's quality of life, while creating opportunities to strengthen local talent and advance the District's economic and social development.
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